BUDDHIST and Muslim families have been torn apart by the deadly violence, which has ranged from drive-by shootings and arson to powerful bombings and grisly beheadings.

Ms Patimoh's younger brother, Samsudeen, a defence volunteer, elder brother Rohim, a village chief, brother-in-law Asif and sister Laila, a community leader, all paid a heavy price for working for the Thai state.

They were shot dead by gunmen on motorcycles who haunt the rustic villages of the jungle-clad region, silencing anyone deemed to be supporting the authorities.

Security forces are struggling to tackle the insurgency and say convictions of ethic Malay rebels are rare because witnesses are too scared to testify in the courts.

The failed attempt on Ms Patimoh's life in Krong Pinang three weeks ago has forced her to move to the comparatively safer surroundings of Yala, the run-down provincial capital.

But she has vowed never to leave the deep south, where an armed ethno-nationalist struggle from three decades ago appears to have resurfaced.

'I no longer have ambition in my life, I just live day by day because I don't know what will happen to me,' said Ms Patimoh, who runs a support group for women and children affected by the violence.

'I can't turn my back on my family or my people, it would be selfish,' she said, her eyes filling with tears.

'I still get death threats. I hear the words 'die, die, die', but I refuse to change my life or give in to those behind it'. -- AFP